3 days Udaipur Itinerary and Guide

Udaipur – the city of lakes is always on the list of must visit destinations in Rajasthan. Known as the ‘Venice of the East’, Udaipur lures every kind of tourist, traveler and backpacker. I have visited Udaipur as a tourist couple of times with my family, as a traveler when I started my Instagram and as a backpacker with my colleague, a total of 5 times.

Each visit has been amazing as I visited different places and ate food in different restaurants. In spite of visiting so many times, I can go back to it any day not only because it is only a few hours drive away from my home city – Ahmedabad but because it can just destress you. You can read more about weekend destinations from Ahmedabad, here.

So I am collating the perfect Udaipur itinerary and guide from all of these visits, which I think could be done in 3 days. Let’s travel to Udaipur.

Day 1: Jagdish Temple, City Palace, Pichola lake, Jag Mandir

If you are taking the overnight train/bus to Udaipur you will probably reach early morning. So check into a hotel and relax a bit. I would highly recommend you to stay in a hostel/homestay on the banks of Pichola Lake. Zostel makes for a perfect choice!

Carvings on the Jagdish Mandir

Morning:

Start the day after taking blessings from Lord Vishnu at the Jagdish temple. The carvings will definitely leave you stunned. Walk toward the Palace to start the sightseeing for the most popular spot in Udaipur – The City Palace. But do not forget to gorge on the flaky and yummy Pyaz ki Kachoris (Stuffed onion fritters) before you move in coz trust me you are going to need those calories!

City Palace is one of the largest palace complex in Rajasthan and you will feel every bit of royalty in almost every nook and corner. Located on the banks of Pichola lake with Arvalli hills as backdrop, it’s extravagant opulence is noticeable everywhere. The palace is built with white marble and granite and the interiors are beautifully decorated with silver work, mirror work, inlay work, glass paintings and murals. The architecture is a fusion of European, Mughal, Chinese and Rajasthani work and the rulers then built it over 400 years!

The Udaipur city palace as seen from Jag Mandir

Places not to be missed within the complex are Sheesh Mahal, Mor Chowk, Surya Chopar, Krishna Vilas, Dilkhush Mahal and Suraj Gokhda.

City Palace timings: 7am to 11pm (includes entry to restaurants)

City Palace museum timings: 9am to 5pm

Entry fees: Rs. 250 for an adult and Rs. 100 for a child. Foreigners have to pay a higher fee.

The Udaipur city palace inside out will easily consume over 3 hours and it would be time for lunch. You may choose to have food at the inhouse Fatehprakash Palace and restaurant. Although expensive the views are amazing and the food is delicious.

Late Afternoon:

Post lunch, head down to the City Palace jetty for a boat tour to see the Jag Mandir Palace riding on Pichola lake. The view of City Palace while going to Jag Mandir is worth the boat fees. Wander around Jag Mandir Palace gardens and fountains or just chill till sunset at the cafe’s for a chilled beer overlooking Pichola lake and city palace.

Evening:

Since this is the day of city palace, immerse yourself a bit more into the history. Watch the Mewar sound and light show ‘The Legacy of Honor, which takes place at the Manek Chowk inside the palace complex between 7 – 8pm. It is an amazing way to know the history of Rajasthan. The entry fees of this separate.

Dinner:

Reserve a table at Ambrai for dinner and enjoy delectable Rajasthani treats with a gorgeous view.

Day 2: Badi lake, Shilpgram, Sajjangarh Palace, Bagore ki Haveli

Morning:

Head a little bit away from the city and towards nature. Situated 13km away from the city centre is Badi Lake also known as Jiyan Sagar. The area around lake is peaceful and tranquil which captivates you with beautiful scenery of blue waters and green hills. If you have enough time in hand you can even trek to the top of one of the hills to get amazing panoramic views of Badi lake.

Once you leave from Badi lake and are towards the city, make a stop at Shilpgram, a living museum of traditional Rajasthani arts and crafts. It has plethora of things to see and do if you have the time. If it’s quick visit, you can shop for souvenirs right here and learn a little bit about the state culture. Possible things to shop include paintings, ceramics, wooden handicrafts, clothes, etc. There are live performances in amphi theatre and you can check the timings of the same at entrance gate.

Drive across Fatehsagar Lake and take in the views of Blue waters and have lunch at one of the restaurants with lake view.

Afternoon:

After lunch, you may rest a bit at your hotel and start around 3:30pm towards Sajjangarh Palace or Monsoon Palace. It is a hilltop palatial residence, overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake. The palace offers a panoramic view of the city’s lakes, palaces and surrounding countryside. It was built chiefly to watch the monsoon clouds.

You will easily spend an hour climbing the top, soaking in the views of clouds across the Aravalli hills. Spend the late afternoon till evening around 5:30pm.

If you fancy some adventure, then you can choose to go on a ropeway to Machhala hilltop and pay respects to Karni Mata temple. You can read more about Mansapurna Karni Mata Ropeway and other Udaipur attractions here.

Evening:

Drive back to city centre to Bagore ki Haveli situated at the Gangaur Ghat. It’s important to reach here early as it closes at 6:30pm. Bagore ki Haveli is a must visit gem when in Udaipur. The Haveli meaning a mansion is decorated with mirrors. It showcases paintings, murals, clothes from yesteryear’s as well as intricate artworks. Prepare to be awed.

At 7pm, the haveli turns into a dance showcase with the cultural folk dance show ‘Dhanohar dance’. You can buy tickets for Haveli entrance as well as this show together. This one hour of folk dance show will enthrall you with 4 types of traditional Rajasthani dance forms – Ghumar, Chari, Kalbelia and Bhavai.

Day 3: Saheliyon ki Bari, Vintage car museum, Hathi Pol

Morning:

Saheliyon ki Bari translated as Garden for friends is a sprawling garden having marble elephants, fountains, manicured rose bushes and many trees.

The yesteryear king, Maharana Sangram Singh built this garden as a gift for his wife and the queen’s 48 accompanists who came with her as dowry. The garden was build so that the queen and her friends could relax and retreat.

Know what it felt like royalty by visiting the Vintage and Classic Car museum. The cars showcased here were used by the Kings of Mewar in Udaipur, back then. They are so properly maintained that all of the cars are in perfect condition.

Afternoon:

No trip is complete without some retail therapy. Udaipur is as much a shopping destination as it is for visiting lakes and palaces. Wander around the colorful streets of Hathi Pol for silver jewelry, batik and bandhani clothing as well as camel leather goods. Get in the bargaining shoes, bring a big shopping bag and start shopping.

Evening:

Time to catch the train/flight back home.

Sustainable travel tips for Udaipur trip:

Cars not allowed in major portion of city centre. So think before packing that huge airbag without wheels. You can get a auto rickshaw (tuk-tuk) for hotel drop from many of the parking spaces available and allotted for tourist parking.

Blend in the culture by wearing the right clothes. Skirt and pants till knee level are good. Avoid spaghetti and tank tops. Cover your shoulders with a scarf if necessary.

Choose local food wherever possible

Do not litter tourist places. Always use a dustbin.

Do not harm the ancient palace and temple structures by carving or writing on it

Do not enter places which are closed off, there’s a reason why they are closed.

I regret visiting Udaipur just for one and a half day. There’s so much to see in 3 days! The Pichola Lake is my best spot in Udaipur. I remember hanging out there the whole evening. I am glad you covered so many places to visit in 3 days. Well Done! Great itinerary..

Could not agree more with your sustainable tip about “eating local”…it is definitively one of the best ways to explore the local culture. The City Palace is quite impressive. I look forward to visiting India soon!!

I have been to Udaipur during my school days and I remember all these places. Udaipur has great architectures with rich cultural heritage. I would love to see folk dances in that authentic Rajasthani styled Haveli. Thanks for sharing detailed post.

That Dhanohar dance is amazing, that is incredible balance that woman has! I think the place I would want to see most on your list is the Garden (as it’s translated). I absolutely love fountains! Also, nice tip on no cars in the city center-good to know for planning!

I have yet to visit India, but when I do, I would put Udaipur on the list for sure. Your itinerary shows that there is a lot to see. I would love to spend some time at the City Palace. I can see how it is a relaxing place.

Udaipur is indeed the jewel in the crown of Rajasthan. The city is unique and offers so much to experience for travelers. Love the fact that Udaipur has something different from the other cities of Rajasthan like Jaipur and Jodhpur. This is a wonderful itinerary that allows one to really experience the royalty and heritage of Udaipur.

Love this post! You give such great detail about a fascinating place I’ve never heard of. I can see why it would be a great weekend getaway: I think I would most enjoy sitting by or walking along the lake shore, that seems like the most peaceful and relaxing thing to do there. Thank you for sharing!

Hey, I am so glad to read your thoughts because I really enjoyed reading this. The way you explain your travel experience is truly awesome. I must say the list is a great one. If you are visiting Udaipur keep this as the checklist to visit places and i bet you love them all. Keep travelling. Good share. The palaces are magnificent. Not only is there such beauty, there is the history that adds to their attractiveness. The landscape seems magical and what a great place to visit. good information about Udaipur. Thanks for providing valuable info on Udaipur.